Four Wrestlers, Two Athletes Caught For Doping

New Delhi: Arjuna Awardee wrestler Rajiv Tomar and Commonwealth Games medal prospect shot putter Saurav Vij were among six athletes caught for doping on Thursday and they were handed provisional suspension by National Anti-doping Agency.

New Delhi: Arjuna Awardee wrestler Rajiv Tomar and Commonwealth Games medal prospect shot putter Saurav Vij were among six athletes caught for doping on Thursday and they were handed provisional suspension by National Anti-doping Agency.

Wrestlers Sumit (74kg), Mausam Khatri (96kg) and Rajiv Tomar (120kg), who were named in the Commonwealth Games squad in men's freestyle, and Gursharanpreet Kaur (women's 72kg) tested positive for Methyl Hexaneamine, a non specified substance.

"The wrestlers from Commonwealth Games team have tested positive for Methyl Hexa Neamine (non specified substance) as per the report received from NADA," a statement from Wrestling Federation of India President G S Mander said. Rajiv Tomar was recently conferred the Arjuna Award.

Saurav and young discus thrower Akash Antil tested positive for the same substance Methyl Hexaneamine in the dope tests conducted during the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships at Patiala from August 5-8.

"As per the report received from National Anti Doping Agency (NADA), the athletes Saurav Vij and Akash Antil found positive in the dope test conducted during National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships held at Patiala from 5th to 8th August 2010," a statement from AFI said. NADA immediately put them under provisional suspension pending a hearing .

"The results reveal that six wrestlers and two athletes have tested positive for banned substance Methyl Hexaneamine. In accordance with World Anti Doping Rules, the eight sportspersons have been 'provisionally suspended' on September 1, 2010 by NADA. Wrestling Federation of India and Athletic Federation of India have been informed accordingly," NADA said in a statement.

"As per the WADA Rules, these athletes will appear before Anti Doping Disciplinary Panel headed by a retired Sessions Judge, who will after a fair hearing adjudicate their case and decide on the sanction to be given to them," NADA Director General Rahul Bhatnagar said in the statement.

Delhi boy Saurav was named along with Om Prakash in India's Commonwealth Games athletics squad but now he is unlikely to feature in the multi-sporting event at his home city. Akash Antil from Haryana was not among the Commonwealth Games Core Group.

A red-faced Wrestling Federation of India today announced their removal from the Indian team for the Commonwealth Games. "Narsingh Pancham Yadav (74kg), Anil Mann (96kg), Praveen (120kg) -- all men's freestyle -- and woman wrestler Anshu Tomar (72kg) have been named as replacement," Mander said.

India had named 21 wrestlers and 90 athletes, the biggest ever, for the Commonwealth Games. PTI